chair #7

[zyzyly]

The chair was in my cubicle, sitting next to my office chair, waiting for me. "I missed you", it said. I told it I hadn't forgotten it.

Today is Nurse's day. I am certainly grateful to all the nurses who I have ever worked with, and who have cared for those I love.

This is what I told my students at the end of graduation. For context, whenever one of my students would do something good, I would bestow a "gold star" upon them--not a real one, just an imaginary one. If they successfully inserted a suppository, a task that most students shudder at, I would bestow a "golden finger".

"For my last act as your teacher, I give each of you a golden heart. You will need it.

I want you to always remember this morning, and the optimism and idealism you feel.
Don't ever lose it or forget it, and never let anyone talk you out of it.

In your careers, you will do more good than you can ever imagine, and touch more lives than you will ever know.
And 25 years from now, you might be standing where I am, looking out over a group of nurses,
thinking about how humbling it is that we have been chosen to do this awesome work.

Do good."

Comments

[duccio.livejournal.com]

...and they applauded, drowning in sound the tears that, how could they hide?
They are like your progeny; you all scions of a same great inclusive family.

[shutterbug.livejournal.com]

*warm fuzzies*

[pasticcio.livejournal.com]

What you said was perfect!

[pinkroo.livejournal.com]

they are so lucky to meet someone like you at the beginning of their careers, to show them how it can be.

[cobaltika.livejournal.com]

this one is so dramatic!

i'll bet your nurse students just adore you. you must be the most amazing instructor - and role model - for them.
congratulations to all of them for graduating so well!

[therealocelot.livejournal.com]

Having graduated from the program where he teaches... the speakers at the graduation are chosen by the students. So yes, it speaks highly of him!

[creactivity.livejournal.com]

What a glorious send off, Mike.

[fletch31526.livejournal.com]

Great entry... those are the sorts of things people need to hear on their way out the door and into their careers.

[howeird]

I love this chair pic!

---

Apparently Nurse appreciation day and teacher appreciation day were both yesterday. So double appreciation for you.

Do good. Yes.

[3-black-cats.livejournal.com]

Excellent words. Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we have a golden heart. But on graduation day, it is especially fitting.